Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences ISSN: 2231-6345 (Online) An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jls.htm 2012 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.162-175/Maheswari et al. Research Article TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL FLORA HABITUATED IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF YSR (KADAPA) DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA P. Uma Maheswari1, *A. Madhusudhana Reddy2, M. Rambabu1 and S.K.M. Basha1 1N.B.K.R College, Vidya Nagar, P.S. Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India 2Department of Botany, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa - 516003, Andhra Pradesh, India *Author for Correspondence ABST RACT Plants have been used both in the prevention and cure of various diseases of humans and their pets. With the advent of human civilization, many systems of therapy have been developed primarily based on plants. Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sidda, Unani, etc. are our traditional systems of medicines. The plant- based traditional medical systems continue to provide the primary health care to more than three-quarters of the world’s populace. Ehnobotanical research is the need for the documentation of traditional knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of mankind. The present study expresses the ethnic information on the various forest regions located in YSR district of Andhra Pradesh. Authentic information about antidotes for various diseases, poisonous bites and for external applications in several skin diseases and wounds of the plants located in different forest areas is given by the tribal people who are residing at nearby forest, at the deep forest and at the foot of hilly forests. Antidotes using are different plant parts like leaves, fruits, stem bark, tubers and roots in the form of paste, powder, juice, infusion, decoction, and in crude form and even some times mixed with other additives like goat milk, butter milk and urine of infants, goat and sheep. The present study brought to light the unrevealed valuable medicinal plant species habituated in the forest region of various longitudes located in YSR District. Key Words: Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, YSR District, Tribes INTRODUCTION The YSR district previously named as Cuddapah disrict, occupies an area of 15,938 square kilometres (6,154 sq mi), with nearly 33% of it under forests (Srivasthava et al., 2010). YSR District is surrounded by Kurnool district on the North, Chittoor district on the South, Nellore district and Prakasam district on the East and Anantapur District on the West. The forests of the district are of a dry deciduous type. The main rivers in this district are Penna, Chitravathi, Kunderu, Papaghni, Sagileru and Cheyeru. Each river is connected with very large forest in all over the District. The forest areas distributed in YSR District are vellikonda forest, Palakonda forest, Nallamala forest, Lankamala forest and Yerramala forest. Regarding soils in YSR District black corson soil lands are 24%, black soil 19%, sandy soil lands 4%, and red soil lands 25%. The first variety lands are very fertile. Sand soil lands are not so fertile. Due to the water resources and various lands scope of soils the hills of YSR District is rich with flora and fauna. The difference in the flora is very clear from foot of forest to forest. And is clearly distinguished by the tribes and are using them for curing several diseases. The YSR District is one of the districts in Rayalaseema area, with an uneven, isolated rainfall in different parts of the district and with large dry tracts. The District`s normal rainfall is 750 mm it gets its major portion of rainfall (around 65%) during June-September period through South- West Monsoon. More than 25% of its average rainfall comes from North-East Monsoon during October-December. It gets its remaining 10% of its rainfall during Winter Period (January-February) and in Hot Weather Period (March-May). Based on the Agro-climatic conditions the District falls both in Southern and scarce rainfall zone. The district has a population around 30,00,000 of which approximately 5,50,000 belong to Scheduled Caste and 80,000 belong to Scheduled Tribes constituting nearly 18% and 3.0% of the 162 Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences ISSN: 2231-6345 (Online) An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jls.htm 2012 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.162-175/Maheswari et al. Research Article population respectively. The tribal inhabitants of this area are Chenchus, Yerukulas and Yanadis or Irulas tribal groups. The forest area in YSR District is 5,050 km². It is 32.87% of the district area. In the northeast part of the district rainfall is high. Red Sanders Pterocarpus santalinus (Fabaceae), an endemic and endangered tree species of medicinal value is available in plenty in this area. This is the only area in India where Red Sanders, Often referred to as 'Rakta-chandanam' or 'Yerra-chandanam' (red sandalwood) is available. A National park is set up in Seshachalam hills for prospecting wild animals. The forest of YSR district is covered with vast flora like Couroupita guianensis Aubl., Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. , Gmelina asiatica L. Helicteres isora L., Shorea tumbuggaia Roxb., Thespesia populnea (Linn.) Sol. Vitex negundo L. etc. The climate of Kadapa district is dry type, its minimum temperature, in November- January, at about 28-30 C. The hottest temperature ranges between the 40-45 ranges during April-May. Various research groups are focussed on elucidation of phytochemical analysis of medicinal flora located in forest regions of YSR District. Each group is focused only a particular area of forest for their study. R.V.Reddy (1995) did his PhD on Ethnobotanical and Phytochemical Studies on Medicinal Plant Resources of Cuddapah District. R.V. Reddy et al. (1995, 1996) noted the ethnobotany of Aristolochia and reported the anti-fertility crude drugs from Cuddapah district. R.V. Reddy et al. (1997) reported the ethnomedicine for ephemeral fevers and anthrax in cattle from Cuddapah district. K.N.Reddy et al. (2007) published a paper on Ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants of Seshachalam hills in Cuddapah district. S.R. Reddy et al. (2011) studied on Ethonobotanical survey of Seshachalam hill ranges Kadapa district. The modern medicine is the only one using extensively against various illnesses of human and animals. It is well known fact that the allopathy besides acting against a particular illness, causing side effects. The natural drugs are the safest and are ancient. Because of side effects with modern drugs people prefer to go for safest ancient drugs, i.e., natural drugs. In this connection, the present study emphasizes the availability of medicinal resources in the forest regions of YSR District, so that the potentials of the ethnobotanical research and the need for the documentation of traditional knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of mankind. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted among the tribal groups such as Yanadis, Chenchus, Yerukulas and Irulas who are practicing traditional medicine in different forest regions of YSR District. Frequent field surveys were carried out during different seasons in 2009-11. Ethnobotanical data were collected as per the methodology suggested by Jain (1991). The data was collected through interviews and discussions among the local traditional healers in their local language (Telugu). The medicinal plant specimens were collected and are deposited in the herbarium of N.B.K.R Medicinal Plant Research Centre, Vidyanagar, Nellore District, A.P., India. The collected medicinal plants were identified taxonomically using “The Flora of Presidency of Madras” (Gamble, 1935). The survey has been conducted in the tribal villages located in all the areas of sheshachalam forest and hils, Vellikonda forest, Palakonda forest, Nallamala forest, Lankamala forest and Yerramala forest. Survey was also carried out in Southern tropical dry deciduous forest regions of the hills, scrub forest in the plains, suothern dry mixed deciduous forest, patches of Dry Red Sanders bearing forests and Hardwickia bipinnata forest, Tropical thorn forests and Tropical dry evergreen forest of YSR District. The whole study is carried out with the permission of Revenue and Forest Department of YSR District. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The medicinal properties of total 144 plant species belongs to 30 families have been identified in the present study. These 144 plants belong to 96 genera and are having a high medicinal value is elucidated in the present study. 163 Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences ISSN: 2231-6345 (Online) An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jls.htm 2012 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.162-175/Maheswari et al. Research Article Table 1: Plant species (studied in YSR District) arranged family wise, with botanical, vernacular and family name, habit, location and ethnic uses S. Botanical Name Vernacular Family Location Medicinal Uses No. Name and Habit 1. Abelmoschus Bendakaya, Malvaceae Rajampet Bronchitis, esculentus (L.) Shrub pneumonia: Moench. Decoction of leaves is used. 2. Acacia eburnea (L.f.) Marmathi, Mimosaceae Balapalli Stem bark is used in Willd. Tree the treatment of Rheumatic fever. 3. Acacia leucopholea Tella tumma, Mimosaceae Ontimitta, Dropsy: Stem bark (Roxb.) Willd. Tree Rajampet Decoction mixed with jiggery, pepper and garlic given orally. 4. Acacia nilotica (L.) Nalla tumma, Mimosaceae Chitvel Seed and Gum Resin Willd. Ex Del. Tree is used in the treatment of Ulcer, Skin disease, Diabetes. 5. Acacia pennata (L.) Shrub Mimosaceae Kadapa Asthma: Fresh stem Willd. sap is sucked daily once till cure. 6. Acacia sinuata (Lour.) Shikaya, Mimosaceae Balapalli, Asthma: Juice of Merr. Straggling Chitvel green bark is given in shrub small doses daily for few days as an effective remedy. 7. Albizia lebbeck (L.) Dirasana, Tree Mimosaceae Chitvel Psoriasis: Stem barks Willd. extract given orally and past as application.